Instacart acquires smart checkout startup Caper AI for $350M

Learn more about what comes next. Instacart today announced that it acquired Caper AI, a startup developing technologies to automate brick-and-mortar checkout experiences, for approximately $350 million in cash and stock. With the purchase, Instacart says that it aims to help retailers "unify in-store and online shopping [flows] for customers." Caper's New York-based workforce will join Instacart, adding hardware engineering talent to Instacart's existing product development team. Over time, Instacart expects to integrate Caper's technology into the Instacart app and the ecommerce websites and apps of its retail partners, allowing customers to build online shopping lists and browse recipes ahead of time and check off their lists as they go. "Over the years, Instacart has continued to expand its retailer enablement services, helping brick-and-mortar grocers across North America move their businesses online, grow, and meet the evolving needs of their customers.